100 dogs killed, stealthily buried in village

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Residents had complained to panchayat about dog menace, but did not expect the animals to be killed

In an act of shocking brutality, over 100 dogs were culled and their bodies buried near a pond in this village, nearly 20 km from Chennai, over the last three days. The poisoning of the dogs, according to residents, was carried out at the orders of the Panchayat. Nearly 25 carcasses of dogs that were culled on Monday were recovered by the Blue Cross of India and brought to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Vepery.

While villagers claim that nearly 200 dogs were killed, Blue Cross puts the number of the animals poisoned at around 100. Dogs from the areas of Sendurpuram, Vinayaganagar and Amman Nagar were killed and brought to nearby D.R.R Nagar, where they were buried near a neglected pond.

“On Saturday and Sunday, three men and a woman came in a tractor loaded with over a hundred bodies of dogs and buried them here. This happened at noon when most people were at work,” said a resident. “They told us it was as per panchayat instructions. Since the tractor bore the panchayat sticker, we did not interfere. They assured us the pit had been dug really deep so there would be no smell.”

The act came to light when the same tractor arrived at the same place, this time with 24 carcasses, on Monday morning and one of the residents informed Blue Cross. “When we rushed there, they had already injected the dogs with cyanide and some dogs were gasping for breath. We couldn't save them though we brought all the bodies to TANUVAS,” said Dawn Williams, General Manager, Blue Cross of India. Mr Williams also exhumed another carcass, buried much earlier, and brought it to TANUVAS for a post-mortem examination.

A complaint was lodged and Poonamallee police registered an FIR against six people, two of whom — Elangovan, supervisor of sweepers in Poonamallee panchayat and Kalainesan, driver of the tractor — have been arrested. The others, mostly people hired to catch the dogs with iron hooks and inject them with cyanide, ran away as soon as residents and Blue Cross workers raised an alarm.

“The panchayat president has been out of the city for the past three days and the workers took the action without consulting him. They did this only because the residents had complained of the dog menace,” said T. Mahesh, advocate for the accused party. Every family here owns dogs and most don't know how to take care of them. They are not sterilised and they bite us, he added.

Residents acknowledge the dog menace exists in the area. The slaughter houses and garbage in the area have increased the number of dogs in the last few months, they said.

“Many of us here are night shift workers in companies and it very difficult, to walk along or cycle past this stretch to get home at nights, because the dogs attack us or chase us. We had complained to the panchayat and the officials said they would take care of it,” said another resident. “But we never wanted them to be killed and dumped like this,” he added.

Some residents said they were told the injections would only drug the dogs and they would be dropped off on the outskirts. "Only when we saw the tractor lowering the bodies into the pit, did we realise they had lied to us. They had not even spared puppies,” said a student.

Police officials in Poonamallee said that investigations were on. “We have sent the cyanide bottles for examination to know how the panchayat workers procured them,” said Shankar, the investigating officer.

Some residents also say the culling here is not a new thing in the area and happens once in every few months. “But this is the first time they killed even dogs that were being taken care of by various families,” said Geetha, a resident.

“We did not visit our native village because our dog was to give birth. But a woman came today and injected my dog when she was sleeping near the gate. Before, we knew what was happening, the dog had died. They put the carcass on the tractor,” said Janaki, a resident.

“There are ways to deal with dogs,” said Mr. Williams said. "We urge residents to never kill dogs because that creates a vacuum and encourages dogs from other localities to come in. These new unfamiliar dogs often turn into nuisance."

Such cruelty I just wish that these poor souls rest in peace . By the way is this the way to treat whom we call our best friend????

from:
Jayannti

Posted on: Jun 13, 2012 at 11:04 IST

Why stopped at only killing strays,go for beggars too since their also in the street! What a cruelty ,sometimes I just thank God for not being born in India,such a curse for dogs.Let them have peace now instead struggling in the hell here.

from:
sasha

Posted on: May 30, 2012 at 21:34 IST

The panchayat or municipality has to take action when residents complain. I don't advocate killing. Dog lovers please give suggestion. I had to hire auto if I have to go to my house after 11 pm night to avoid bite from street dogs even though my house is near trunk road. Why animal lovers love only the dogs, not chicken,goat,cow etc killed for food. These animal lovers should form a trust to take care of all street dogs or they have give protection services to residents going late to house.

from:
Rajagopal

Posted on: May 10, 2012 at 11:34 IST

I honestly think that there was no need for this write up to have appeared .... and to kick off 'imbalanced softer attitudes'. May be there was no other news of a serious nature.
In the entire gamut of things Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma has their own role to play -- so too Yamadharmaraja. As long as pet dogs are well domesticated, looked after, they are fine - can also be worshipped in temple as 'Bhairav'.
Not when they turn mad, sick, skin-peeled; with blood all over, they are scratching all the time, barking and chasing every moving body!
Let's stop these from coming to bite us off!
I love dogs - but only the clean and well behaved pet dogs! Not these sick ones. If we pity and feed these, I'm afraid, we are sick!! [they'll ensure that we'd become one like them - "BOW-WOW".]

from:
Ramana

Posted on: May 9, 2012 at 17:54 IST

I love pets and every animal.
But I must admit that stray dog menace in every city and village is on the increase. There is only a fine line between a dog, a fox and a wolf - I'd say! Depends how well it has been domesticated/managed.
My colony in the outskirts is full of stray dogs. They bark and howl the whole night. It is unsafe to walk or ride post-dusk hours.
The problem starts with construction workers who pet them - while it looks young and cute - then they dogs stay put there forever. The new flat owners start off-loading all food-waste.
Then comes the poor system of our waste disposal - every bin is toppled by these dogs.
The Blue Cross and PETA may cry, but it is proven --- that one male dog and a female dog - together it can breed some 67000 dogs in a matter of just SIX YEARS!!
The current system cannot handle!
Summer heat can be bad for dogs.
Agencies must coordinate - sick dogs are dangerous. Dying of rabies is cruel at any age. Everyone will face this risk.

from:
vsramana

Posted on: May 9, 2012 at 17:39 IST

Its a pity that the corporation has taken this extreme step. These days the life of a human being itself is not valuable .. what do I say about dogs and other animals ? I think the best way is to neuter the stray dogs and vaccinate them so that they dont spread rabies. In 2 years the stray dog population will decrease and their bites would not cause any harm and public wont be afraid of them.

from:
hari

Posted on: May 9, 2012 at 10:51 IST

News of children being bitten by stray dogs regularly come in news papers. Corporations are lethargic to take any action to eliminate the dog menace. And if by some miracle they start to control the dogs, this animal lovers are up in arms. All the stray dogs should be killed inflicting minimum pain to them. And all those who have pet dogs should be strictly warned not to bring any dog out on roads without leash. And most important if the dogs dirty the road the whosoever bring the dog for walking should pick the poop and carry it away.

from:
vkguptan

Posted on: May 9, 2012 at 04:34 IST

Instinctively, my eyes became wet when I saw the photograph. I felt miserable by the time I finished reading the article. Then, I saw the comments from Dharun, Kumar and Rizwan. Sadly, such persons are in the majority and persons like Monica and Rajesh are part of a very small group. I didn't feel that bad after that. The dogs wouldn't have had a great life. They might have been beaten up and left to fend for themselves if they attacked somebody who provoked them. Instead, this death was quick and painless. They are now at a better place.

I love animals to the hilt but I do wish that they are wiped off the face of our Earth, in a manner similar to this, quick and pain-free. We 'humans' do not deserve them.

from:
Sagar Iyer

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 21:29 IST

While I support and even encourage animal rights and protection, I believe that opposing the culling of street dogs is completely required. I also believe that the methods proposed by various animal rights organizations including neutering of dogs and providing animal shelters are grossly inadequate considering the number of dogs on the roads. I have myself adopted 2 dogs in the past and had them go through all mandatory health checks and everything before I let them inside the house. While care for animals is appreciated, public health should take precedence in our grossly neglected cities of today.

from:
Balaji S

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 20:14 IST

Dog owners, don't think that others feel the same towards your dogs as you do. If you can keep your dogs within your premises, under control and not let them roam around, howling all through the nights, chasing elderly and the kids, then I don't have a problem. How many owners clean up after their dogs? How many kids/elders have to run for safety because you don't leash them? How many owners make sure their dogs are at home in the night and not chasing people?
Do you have the same sympathy for children bitten by such dogs? How many deers have been mauled by stray dogs? Your sympathy is totally one-sided! Either you take care of your pets or some else will and that won't be to your liking.

from:
Rizwan

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 18:12 IST

Certain things have to be done in a way such that it should not affect others. Street dogs are not a healthy sign for the residents. They should be removed at first sight but in a way that others didn't witness it; not like this dumping in a pond in the day time.

from:
Jeevs

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 17:43 IST

Kumar,
I'm sorry to hear you state. But please have some heart before you acknowledge that culling is the right way. All life should be respected. We share our world with them and we have no right to decide if they should live or not. Please don't blame your condition on dogs. Even a kid running across the road can cause confusion. Does that mean the kids should be stealthily eliminated? Its us who have to be careful when driving. I suggest you adopt a dog and see for yourself what difference they can bring to your life (no pun intended). You just have to take a step forward to try and understand them. You'll feel sorry for what you wrote here.

from:
Monica

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 17:02 IST

Street Dogs are a complete menace for Kids, Motorist etc.. Have met with an accident in Chennai 4 years before and my life revolves around the support of Crutches now. A simply empathy is not sufficient. Any one who evokes this kind of empathy should also have a solution for this Menace. Any one who own a dog should keep that inside their house. Leaving it out is extremely dangerous to the Public. May be the Corporation should have done this in a much more stealth mode. Placing the dead in an open Tractor like this is definitely not the right way to do it in a Civilized society. It does bring a sad feeling and definitely will not make my day.

from:
kumar

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 13:52 IST

People neither allow to take action like this nor give a solution for the dog menace and go unnoticed when puppies are starving without food and the dogs dying in accident and even a injured dog goes unnoticed by passerby.Amazing people and amazing organisation.
Those people who pointing their finger on the innocent and ignorant are just want to feel sympathy and not ready to do anything !Filling and FIR on somebody who have gained nothing because of this is sorry full state of affairs.

from:
G.Soundar Rajan

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 12:39 IST

Not the correct way to deal with stray dogs, every life in this world must be treated with respect.. Sad to see this in a national like India.
Please remove the pictures of this poor souls :(

from:
Rubesh

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 09:59 IST

I don't see any point in shifting the dogs to the outskirts of the city. Does that mean the life of a city resident is more valuable than one who lives in the outskirts? There has to be a solution which aims at stopping the breeding of these dogs.

from:
Rangaram

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 09:57 IST

I would like to bring to the notice of The Hindu that street dogs can be a huge menace to human beings. Lot of diseases spread because of these animals and motorists find it extremely difficult to travel at night. Safety of little kids is paramount and we don't want any kid to be attacked by a street dog.

from:
Dharun

Posted on: May 8, 2012 at 09:04 IST

So much for the Man's best friend. I have a labrador; but I would never hurt a street dog. This is really heart breaking to see what humans can do to get rid Man's best friend.